U.S. Senate candidate Morgan Harper visits Athens

Sign outside Athens County Democratic Party Office. Photo by Izzy Keller.

U.S. Senate candidate Morgan Harper talked about her campaign plans at a meet and greet hosted by the Athens County Democratic Party this past Saturday –– discussing universal healthcare, student loan forgiveness, clean energy and job creation.

Harper, who previously ran against U.S. House Rep. Joyce Beatty, announced her bid for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat in August 2021, following Republican Senator Rob Portman’s retirement announcement in January. 

Harper previously debated Republican candidate Josh Mandel in January at North Columbus Baptist Church. 

“Trumpism is only growing in intensity in the state of Ohio and this guy (Mandel) is at the forefront of it. So we need to make sure that people know what he is, who he is,” Harper said at the meet and greet. 

She will face U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio's 13th congressional district in the May primary election. 

Harper said she decided to run “because everyone in Ohio deserves the opportunity, just like I am so grateful that I got, to live out their potential and to be okay. That is not radical. That is not crazy. That is the American dream.” 

Harper said the only way to see effective change is through better representation in government. 

“We don't really have a policy problem. We have a politician problem,” Harper said. 

Harper listening to comment. Photo by Izzy Keller.

While sipping on a Donkey coffee, Harper yielded questions from crowd members. When asked how she plans on winning the open in the US Senate seat, Harper mentioned the importance of getting Ohioans out to vote. 

“We have to have as many Black people voting for a Democrat as possible, as many young people turning out to vote…independent women who are going to come out and vote for a Democrat,” Harper said. “When young people turn out to vote, we have the ability to win.”

Hailing from Columbus and having grown up in foster care before she was adopted by her mother, Harper earned degrees from Tufts University, Princeton University, and Stanford University. 

Harper said the fact that she is not a typical politician is imperative to her campaign. 

“A common question I get is ‘What makes you a different kind of Democrat? Why should I buy anything you're saying?’ ‘Don't like politicians. Don't like Democrats’. These are the sentiments that I'm often hearing from people, and being able to say to people, ‘Hey, look, I'm not a politician. I'm like one of you’,” Harper said. 

The Athens County Democratic Party has not made any official endorsements yet. 

“I, personally, am excited for her run for office,” Andres Reiks, an Athens County Democrats volunteer, said. “It appears that many of her life circumstances reflect what a lot of families in a rural city are dealing with: jobs, income security, family issues.”

Harper responding to questions at Athens County Democratic Party meet and greet. Photo by Izzy Keller.

When asked about the issue of voters’ distrust of politicians, Harper brought up her own campaign finances. 

“I'm a grassroots candidate. I only get any traction if people believe in what I'm throwing out there. I have not been tapped on the head and asked to do this campaign. We live and die by support for real people,” Harper said.

Harper has pledged to not accept any funding from political action committees, according to her campaign website. 

Harper and Ryan have been the only candidates for U.S. Senate, so far, to make a stop in Athens and speak about their plans for Appalachia. 

“What I'm hearing here does have a lot in common with other parts of the state, people concerned about access to health care and the costs so that's why I support universal health care,” Harper said. “Also making sure that we are going to be focused on, once people are healthy, that they have jobs to work that are going to pay them enough to live and really wanting to make sure we're investing in the renewable energy sector, creating jobs of the future that are going to be high paying jobs.”

Warren Taylor, a local food activist who invited Harper to speak at the Athens County Democrats’ office, talked about the importance of recognizing rural America. 

“Rural America has been destroyed. Rural America has had all its wealth extracted,” Taylor said.

Taylor explained his support of Harper stems from her relatability. 

“Living here 30 years, it's discouraging to see the continuing concentration of wealth and power at the hands of a few,” Taylor said. “I think Morgan understands these dynamics (through) her plan to get more jobs, better employment, better opportunity. She’s one of us.”

The crowd included members of the Ohio University College Democrats who shared their excitement for Harper’s visit. 

“I was really excited to get the opportunity to speak with her. It's great that we have more progressive candidates that are getting time to speak (with their potential constituents),” OUCD President Grant Perry said. 

OUCD member Hailey Gifford shared that she’s delighted a more youthful and relatable candidate is running for U.S. Senate. 

“I don’t personally connect with Tim Ryan, so it’s nice to have a younger woman. Having a younger candidate makes her closer to us and our issues,” Gifford shared. 

With just 76 days until the primary election on May 3, Morgan plans to continue on her Ohio Opportunity Guarantee Tour. 

“It is our turn to lead. And that's what this campaign is about. It is not about me. It is not just about our campaign staff. It is about all of us coming together to make that happen,” Harper said. 

Izzy Keller contributed to this report